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On my webpage, I have placed a link to a local file (e.g. text.docx on my local HD). I would like to double click on this link, and have a third party software which is installed locally on my PC (e.g. Microsoft Word) open it.

I would like to be able to do this with Firefox and Google Chrome. Obviously, I am a newbie to web programming. Can somebody show me the way? I have looked around and had the impression that I need to write and add an extension, maybe?

Thanks for your time.

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closed as off topic by Barry♦ Jan 25 '12 at 11:48

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1 Answer

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If you are on windows, you could try with a link like file://c:/test.doc

Tell me if it works, I have not tested it myself, if one clicks on such a link from a web page, but it works to simply type this in the address field of a browser.

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The test.doc is only an example.. I would like to know how to do this with any arbitrary file and the program designed to open it. – Punchy Jan 24 '12 at 21:17
I just tested you suggestion, in Google Chrome, On Linux, with a LibreOffice document. A window pops open asking where to "save" the file. So not quite what we need.. – Punchy Jan 24 '12 at 21:26
Often, one can press "open" instead of saving, but I understand that it was not what you were after. I will keep my answer here for future reference. – David Jan 24 '12 at 23:08

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